Coal miner in viral Kentucky basketball photo says response has been 'mind-blowing'
It's "mind-blowing" to Micheal McGuire that a photo of him and his son at Kentucky's Blue-White men's basketball scrimmage is still viral three days after it was posted online.
The McGuire family entered the spotlight this week after UK coach John Calipari posted the photo on his social media accounts, calling on fans to help him identify the pair so he could give the family the VIP treatment at a game later this season at Rupp Arena.
That happened Monday. By Thursday, the McGuires' story had landed them on NBC's "Today" show.
On Saturday, McGuire rushed from his job as a coal miner to the Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville to join his family at the game, his wife, Mollie McGuire, previously told The Courier Journal. Micheal was still in his work clothes and covered in coal dust when he arrived after the 30-minute drive, but he "didn’t want to miss it," he told the "Today" show hosts.
OPINION: Viral photo of coal miner and son at Kentucky game shows power sports have to unite
Several social media commenters said the photo was inspirational, a visual representation of what coal miners go through to support their families. Micheal told the hosts it's "normal" to see parents covered in coal dust where he's from.
The Blue-White scrimmage was 3-year-old Easton's first time at a college basketball game, but the family said they hope to bring their 1-year-old daughter, Lynlee, along for the ride to Rupp Arena.
This year's Blue-White scrimmage took place in Pikeville to raise money for the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund, a mutual aid fund to help those who were hit hard by devastating flooding that tore through the region earlier this year. At least 43 people were killed in the flood and the aftermath, with Pikeville among the communities affected.
It was the team's idea to have the game in Pikeville, Calipari said, and they managed to raise over $150,000 for flood victims. Mollie and Micheal weren't personally affected by the flooding, but the couple told "Today" they "had some friends who lost a lot."
Contact reporter Rae Johnson at RNJohnson@gannett.com. Follow them on Twitter at @RaeJ_33.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Coal miner in Kentucky basketball photo calls response 'mind-blowing'
